>Alan B. Pearce wrote:
>>>Motorola 6805xxxxx
>>>[where xxxxx=500 different versions, all on allocation],
>>
>>I suspect this is 9/10ths of the problem. There are so many versions of some of
>>these chips that I really do wonder how some people decide which one to use.
>>
>>I do wonder how much of the allocation problem would be fixed if the number of
>>versions was cut down so the production plant did not need to change wafer
>>setups, and instead put that time into production.
>>
>
>Alan, I completely agree with you. I often wonder what thought
>processes go into deciding to have so many versions of every
>little thing these days. I usually attribute it to the infamous
>"McDonald-ization" of american society - everybody figures McD
>is/are so successful they should be emulated.
>
>Back in the early 90s, I was consulting with a company that had
>been using about 5000 of a particular 6805-variant every year for
>about 5 years, and then suddenly couldn't get them anymore - the
>chips weren't phased out, just on allocation [ie, generally
>unavailable] status. This lesson taught me a very lot about
>companies with 500 "variants".

Not sure I agree :.
Microchip : zillions of variants, no supply problems
Atmel : very few varients, all unobtainable (until recently)